Two James Clemens student-athletes sign scholarships
Jets TJ Edwards, left, and Jordan Sogers, right, make official their commitments to continue their athletic careers at the next level. (Record Photo/Nick Sellers)
By Nick Sellers | Staff Writer
MADISON – Senior James Clemens High School athletes Jordan Sogers and TJ Edwards became the latest Jets to sign athletic scholarships at a morning ceremony March 12.
Sogers, a former offensive lineman for coach Wade Waldrop and the rest of the Jets football team, signed papers to attend the University of North Alabama in Florence, while Edwards became the first James Clemens wrestler to sign an athletic scholarship, inking a deal with St. Catharine College in Kentucky.
As Dylan Hampton, Ryan Parris and Logan Stenberg participated in National Signing Day Feb. 4, Sogers said he didn’t have the scholarships offers at that point and chose to wait it out.
“Coach Waldrop said he would give me a signing day when it was time,” Sogers said. “I don’t need a signing day to prove I can play at the next level.”
Sogers, who played tackle at James Clemens, is the third Jets offensive lineman to sign papers to play at the next level. Stenberg signed an athletic scholarship to Kentucky, while Parris will walk-on at Alabama to attempt to earn a starting job as a long snapper.
The past few weeks have been busy for TJ Edwards. On Feb. 14, Edwards made history by becoming the first Jet to win a wrestling state title when he nabbed the Class 7A 182-pound division championship at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville.
Edwards had been committed to St. Catharine College for months. In addition to his athletic scholarship, Edwards also received an academic scholarship to the institution.
“I’m so grateful for Coach [George] Cruz for putting in the work with me,” Edwards said.
Edwards also gave a nod to his teachers and counselors, and his parents, Mark and Lorita.
“They were in this as much as I was,” Edwards said.
The James Clemens football team has started putting in time in the weight room ahead of spring break, which runs March 23–27.
